Window jack



y 9, 1944- J. A. STEVENS 2,348,661

WINDOW JA'CK Fi'led Jan. 14, 1942 INVENTOR. JOHN Aer/we Jrsmwa- Ma /W Patented May 9, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDOW JACK John Arthur Stevens, South Bend, Ind.-

Application January 14, 1942, Serial No. 426,751

2 Claims.

I'his invention relates to an improvement in window jacks, and more particularly to a window jack by means of which workmen, such as painters, window cleaners, glaziers, etc, may work on the outside of a building at an upper window thereof.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is simple, strong, and lightweight in construction, and inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which is adjustable for use on windows of various widths.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which can be simply, quickly, and easily applied to and removed from a building while the user is standing within the building.-

A further object is to provide a device of this character having a three-point support, one of said supports sustaining the weight of the device and the user, another of said supports positioning said device, and the third support serving to retain the device against slippage.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having a pair of rigid supporting frame members, each engaging a building at spaced points, wherein said frame members are interconnected by a plank and are held against slippage by retainer members pivotally connected thereto.

Other objects will be apparent from the description, drawing, and appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device illustrating the manner in which it is applied to a building at a window.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the frame members.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the retained member.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the device.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6' is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the device taken on line 66 of Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating a guard mounted on aplank.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a guard bar.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral I'll designates a frame member of which two are employed in the device. These frame members are of complementary size and shape. Each of the frame members I0 is formed from an elongated piece of rigid bar or strap metal, which portion I! of each frame member IE1 is elongated and is preferably straight. The upper end of each frame member is return bent at l2 and terminates in a laterally bent bearing flange l3 positioned below the upper end of the frame member. The lower end of each frame member is bent inwardly at I4 and is preferably twisted at right anglesat l5 and terminates in a curved foot portion l6. Said lower bent portion lies in the same plane and projects from central frame portion H in the same direction as the return bend 12.

As best illustrated in Fig. 1, the foot portion I6 is offset laterally from the body portion ii a distance substantially less than the spacing between the bearing flange l3 and the body portion ll. A plurality of apertures H are formed in equi-spaced relation along the length of the central portion ll, with the lowermost aperture H preferably spaced above the foot I6 and the uppermost aperture I'l preferably spaced above the bearing flange [3. An aperture I8 is formed in the return bend 12 above the bearing flange 13.

A: pair of V-shaped brackets, each comprising a lower portion 20:, an outer end portion 2| substantially perpendicular to portion 20, and an upper portion 22 extending at an acute angle to the portion 20, serves as means to secure the ends of a plank to the frame members III. This bracket is preferably formed of rigid strap metal Whose ends 23 are twisted to lie in a vertical plane and bear fiat against the faces of the frame members If! while the portion 2|] of the bracket lies in a horizontal plane. The bracket ends 23 are apertured and the apertures thereof are spaced apart the same distance as the space between adjacent apertures ll of frame [0. Suitable securing means, such as .bolts and nuts, may extend throughap'erture's- H to removably secure the ends 23 of the brackets to said frame Ill.

The plank 25 which is supported by portions 20' of the brackets at its ends is preferably of an extensible construction, as illustrated. Plank 25 is formed from a plurality of parallel slat 25 and 21, arranged in rigidly connected units,

is bent in substantially C-shape'. The central which units are slidabl relative to each other. Thus, slats or bars 26 are rigidly interconnected at their free ends by plates 28 which are secured at opposite sides thereof. The free ends of the bars 21 are interconnected by plates 29 at opposite sides thereof, as best illustrated in Fig. 5. Note that the portions of the bars which are secured to the strap members 28 and 29 are of greater thickness than the adjacent portions of the bars of the other unit. Hence, the free ends of the units may slide freely one relative to the other without interference from the strap members 2829. At their outer ends the bars 26 have spacing blocks 30 of a width slightly greater than the width of bars 27 interposed therebetween, while similar spacers 3| are interposed between the outer ends of the bars 21. A rod 32 passes through each set of bars and spacer blocks, as best illustrated in Fig. 6, to hold the outer ends of the unit together. Also, the portion 20 of each bracket underlies the outer end portion of each unit and a strap 33 overlies said portion, and suitable securing members 34 serve spacers 30 and 3| greater thickness than the bars 26 and 27. The

plank is so constructed that it may be easily extended or retracted. The specific construction of the extensible plank employed may differ somewhat from that herein shown, and may correspond to any conventional construction. A stop 35 will be fixedly mounted upon a bar of one unit for engagement by the strap interconnecting the free ends of th other unit to limit the extension of the plank. As here shown, stop 35 is mounted upon one of the bars 26 and is adapted for engagement by the strap 29 interconnecting the free ends of bars 21.

i A clevis 3B is pivotally connected to each frame ID by a suitable bolt or rivet 3'! extending through the opening l8 in the frame. The outer end portion 38 of each clevis is provided with an opening therein through which an elongated threaded shank portion 39 of a hook 40 loosely extends. A nut 4| is threaded on the shank 39 and positioned within the clevis 36 and in engagement with the inner face of the portion 38 of said clevis. The curved end portion of the hook 40 is preferably covered at 42 with any suitable sheathing 42. The end of the hook 40 terminates in'a bearing foot 43 bent angularly therefrom.

When the parts have been properly assembled, as illustrated in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 with the plank 25 arranged in retracted position, the device is'in condition for use. Assuming that-the user is located within the building, he will pass the device through an open window and place it in the position illustrated in Fig. 1. In this position, the bearing flange I3 of each frame member ID is supported upon the ledge 44 of the window preferably against the outer edge of the window 'sill 45. The frame will then be positioned in outwardly spaced relation to the outer face 46 of the building wall beneath the window opening in substantially upright position, in which it is intended, by theengagement of the foot portion 1 6 of the frame with said outer wall face 46 below the window opening. The nut 4| will be adjusted upon threaded shank 39 of hook 40 to provide the proper overall length of the clevis-hook assembly 364ll whereby the bearing flange 43 at the inner end of the hook may engage the inner wall of the building below the window opening. As here illustrated, said flange 43 bears against the face of a trim member 41 below 'the window opening. It will be assumed that the position of the bracket supporting the plank 25 will have been adjusted as required according to the height of the window for the greatest convenience of the workman. In this connection, note that the plank 25 may be mounted upon the frame in four different positions of adjustments. The lowertrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The two other positions of adjustment are a position intermediate the two positions illustrated in Fig. 1, and an uppermost position wherein the bracket supporting the plank is reversed with respect to the dotted line illustration, so that the angular portion 22 of the bracket is lowermost and the horizontal portion 22 thereof and the plank 25 are uppermost. The adjustment of the plank will be made before the device is applied through the window in position. In this connection, it will be obvious that some windows are small and it will be desirable to place the platform as low as 'possible for convenience, whereas other windows on public buildings are quite tall and the :plank must be positioned as high as possible,

with respect .to the window opening.

It will be observed from Fig. 1 that the weight of the device and of a user standing upon the plank 25 is primarily applied to the building wall in a downward direction by the bearing flanges l 3 resting upon the window ledge 44. A small component of the applied force or weight is sustained by the lower foot portion I6 of the frame members but these foot portions serve primarily as positioning members to hold the frame members H! in upright position. I'he clevis-hook unit 36-40 serves primarily to hold the bearing flanges I 3 against outward slippage and none of the weight of the device and the user need be sustained thereby. 5 Y

The small number'of the component parts of the device permits it to be manufactured simply and inexpensively and also permits maintenance of the totalweight of the device at the smallest ppssible amount consistent with the necessary strength of the parts. Therefore, it is easily handled by one man who can lift it and manipulate it to proper position without difficulty.

most position of adjustment is illustrated in Fig. 1 in full lines'and another position is illus- Where jwide windows are encountered, the device may first be properly positioned with respect to the window and then laterally extended by sliding the two frame members l0 away from each other and toward theopposite sides of the window. When the device is to be removed, it can first be retracted and then lifted from its position with minimum inconvenience and difficulty. The actual operation of applying the device preferably entails the operations of first positioning the bearing frames 43 against the inner face of the wall while thrusting the device outwardly through the window and then permitting the frame elements In to pivot relative to the clevis 36 to bring the bearing flanges I3 thereof into proper position uponthe ledge 44 and the'foot portions l6 into bearing engagement with the outer face of the wall. f

To remove the device, it is first tilted outwardly and then lifted bodily upwardly to clear the window sill and then moved inwardly through the window opening. The formation of the return bent portion I 2 at the upper end of each member facilitates the grasping and manipulation of the device by a workman standing within a building at a window opening; I

In the event it is desired to provide the device with a guard, this can be accomplished quite simply and easily as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. A pair of brackets each comprising an upright 50 whose upper end is bent at 5| to provide a loop and an angular bar 52'whose upper end is welded or otherwise fixedly secured at 53 to the bar 5| may be employed. The lower ends'of the bars 53 and 52 maybe secured to the outer and inner edges respectively, of the opposite ends of w the plank 25 by means of bolts 53' such as bolts threaded upon the shafts 32 extending through the end portions of the plank. An elongated rigid bar 54 best illustrated in Fig. 8 may extend between the upper looped portions 5| of the two brackets. As illustrated, bar 54 may be provided with a notch 55 adjacent one end thereof adapted to seat in the loop 5| of one bracket. The opposite end of the bar may be provided with a plurality of spaced notches or recesses 56 adapted to extend through and seat in the loop 5| of the opposite bracket. The loop 5| is made of a size to permit the bar 54 to pass freely therethrough and said bar will be secured to place therein. The provision of the spaced notches at one end of the bar 54, permits adjustment of its position to compensate for extension and retraction of the plank 25. Also, it will be observed that the bar 54 may easily be manipulated by a workman standing within the building to permit its insertion and removal if it is desired to handle the same separately from the device in the operation of applying and removing the device from the window.

Of particular importance in connection with this device is the fact that the user need adjust the device only once for use on a series of windows of the same size and that adjustment is effected quickly and simply by properly mounting the brackets for the plank with reference to the frames I0 and by adjusting the relative positions of the clevis 36 and shank 39 of hook 40. The latter adjustment can be effected by merely rotating the hook 40 until its extension from the clevis is as desired. Once the device has been properly adjusted it is a simple matter of manipulation to apply the device to a window and remove it therefrom, and these operations require only a minute or so at each window.

I claim: 7

1. A window jack comprising a pair of rigid upright frame members each having a return bent upper end portion and a laterally off-set lower end portion, an extensible plank, plank supporting brackets carried by said frame members intermediate the height thereof, and a rigid hook pivoted to the upper end of the return bent portion of each frame member.

2. A window jack comprising a pair of complementary elongated hook-shaped rigid frame members each having a plurality of apertures in equi-spaced relation therein, an extensible plank, a pair of rigid brackets secured to the ends of said plank, said plank and brackets constituting a unit, securing means mounted in selected frame apertures for connecting said brackets to said frame members, and retainer hooks pivoted to the upper ends of said frame members.

JOHN ARTHUR STEVENS. 

